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cohenlab.bsky.social
Cohen Lab @Cornell
@cohenlab.bsky.social
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We study all things germ cell!
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Cohen Lab @Cornell @cohenlab.bsky.social · May 24
Exceptionally proud to have hood four new Cohen lab PhDs yesterday. Go out into the world and continue to do amazing things, Drs. Wood, Tanis, Simon, and Carr! I am so so proud of you all! @awood2.bsky.social
cohenlab.bsky.social
Delighted to see a @cornellrepro.bsky.social alumna, Dr. Jordana Bloom, back at Cornell talking about her postdoctoral work on menopause.
October 13, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
donmoyn.bsky.social
Full resignation letter from Demetre C. Daskalakis, a CDC leader, does not hold back.
"The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud."
My resignation letter from CDC. Dear Dr. Houry, I am writing to formally resign from my position as Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effective August 28, 2025, close of business. I am happy to stay on for two weeks to provide transition, if requested. This decision has not come easily, as I deeply value the work that the CDC does in safeguarding public health and am proud of my contributions to that critical mission. However, after much contemplation and reflection on recent developments and perspectives brought to light by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., I find that the views he and his staff have shared challenge my ability to continue in my current role at the agency and in the service of the health of the American people. Enough is enough. While I hold immense respect for the institution and my colleagues, I believe that it is imperative to align my professional responsibilities to my system of ethics and my understanding of the science of infectious disease, immunology, and my promise to serve the American people. This step is necessary to ensure that I can contribute effectively in a capacity that allows me to remain true to my principles. The recent change in the adult and children’s immunization schedule threaten the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people. The data analyses that supported this decision have never been shared with CDC despite my respectful requests to HHS and other leadership. This lack of meaningful engagement was further compounded by a “frequently asked questions” document written to support the Secretary’s directive that was circulated by HHS without input from CDC subject matter experts and that cited studies that did not support the conclusions that were attributed to these authors. Having worked in local and national public health for years, I have never experienced such radical non-transparency, nor have I seen such unskilled manipulation of data to achieve a political end rather than the good of the American people. It is untenable to serve in an organization that is not afforded the opportunity to discuss decisions of scientific and public health importance released under the moniker of CDC. The lack of communication by HHS and other CDC political leadership that culminates in social media posts announcing major policy changes without prior notice demonstrate a disregard of normal communication channels and common sense. Having to retrofit analyses and policy actions to match inadequately thought-out announcements in poorly scripted videos or page long X posts should not be how organizations responsible for the health of people should function. Some examples include the announcement of the change in the COVID-19 recommendations for children and pregnant people, the firing of scientists from ACIP by X post and an op-ed rather than direct communication with these valuable experts, the announcement of new ACIP members by X before onboarding and vetting have completed, and the release of term of reference for an ACIP workgroup that ignored all feedback from career staff at CDC. Their desire to please a political base will result in death and disability of vulnerable children and adults. Their base should be the people they serve not a political voting bloc. I have always been first to challenge scientific and public health dogma in my career and was excited by the opportunity to do so again. I was optimistic that there would be an opportunity to brief the Secretary about key topics such as measles, avian influenza, and the highly coordinated approach to the respiratory virus season. Such briefings would allow exchange of ideas and a shared path to support the vision of “Making America Healthy Again.” We are seven months into the new administration, and no CDC subject matter expert from my Center has ever briefed the Secretary. I am not sure who the Secretary is listening to, but it is quite certainly not to us. Unvetted and conflicted outside organizations seem to be the sources HHS use over the gold standard science of CDC and other reputable sources. At a hearing, Secretary Kennedy said that Americans should not take medical advice from him. To the contrary, an appropriately briefed and inquisitive Secretary should be a source of health information for the people he serves. As it stands now, I must agree with him, that he should not be considered a source of accurate information. The intentional eroding of trust in low-risk vaccines favoring natural infection and unproven remedies will bring us to a pre-vaccine era where only the strong will survive and many if not all will suffer. I believe in nutrition and exercise. I believe in making our food supply healthier, and I also believe in using vaccines to prevent death and disability. Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated and is derivative of a legacy that good medicine and science should continue to shun. The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud. I am resigning because of the cowardice of a leader that cannot admit that HIS and his minions’ words over decades created an environment where violence like this can occur. I reject his and his colleagues’ thoughts and prayers, and advise they direct those to people that they have not actively harmed. For decades, I have been a trusted voice for the LGBTQ community when it comes to critical health topics. I must also cite the recklessness of the administration in their efforts to erase transgender populations, cease critical domestic and international HIV programming, and terminate key research to support equity as part of my decision. Public health is not merely about the health of the individual, but it is about the health of the community, the nation, the world. The nation’s health security is at risk and is in the hands of people focusing on ideological self-interest. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunities for growth, learning, and collaboration that I have been afforded during my time at the CDC. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated professionals who are committed to improving the health and well-being of communities across the nation even when under attack from within both physically and psychologically. Thank you once again for the support and guidance I have received from you and previous CDC leadership throughout my tenure. I wish the CDC continued success in its vital mission and that HHS reverse its dangerous course to dismantle public health as a practice and as an institution. If they continue the current path, they risk our personal well-being and the security of the United States.
August 28, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
by-cjewett.bsky.social
BREAKING (AGAIN): The White House said it has fired CDC director Susan Monarez, who clashed with
@seckennedy.govpeeps.us over vaccine policy. Confirmed by the Senate, she had refused to resign unless the WH fired her.

GIFT: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/h...
New C.D.C. Director Is Fired, Trump Administration Says
www.nytimes.com
August 28, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
costasamaras.com
A hero. I got to meet Dr. Daskalakis at the White House when he was the deputy coordinator of the White House Mpox Response. His public service made the country safer.

RFK must resign.
donmoyn.bsky.social Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · Aug 28
Full resignation letter from Demetre C. Daskalakis, a CDC leader, does not hold back.
"The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud."
My resignation letter from CDC. Dear Dr. Houry, I am writing to formally resign from my position as Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effective August 28, 2025, close of business. I am happy to stay on for two weeks to provide transition, if requested. This decision has not come easily, as I deeply value the work that the CDC does in safeguarding public health and am proud of my contributions to that critical mission. However, after much contemplation and reflection on recent developments and perspectives brought to light by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., I find that the views he and his staff have shared challenge my ability to continue in my current role at the agency and in the service of the health of the American people. Enough is enough. While I hold immense respect for the institution and my colleagues, I believe that it is imperative to align my professional responsibilities to my system of ethics and my understanding of the science of infectious disease, immunology, and my promise to serve the American people. This step is necessary to ensure that I can contribute effectively in a capacity that allows me to remain true to my principles. The recent change in the adult and children’s immunization schedule threaten the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people. The data analyses that supported this decision have never been shared with CDC despite my respectful requests to HHS and other leadership. This lack of meaningful engagement was further compounded by a “frequently asked questions” document written to support the Secretary’s directive that was circulated by HHS without input from CDC subject matter experts and that cited studies that did not support the conclusions that were attributed to these authors. Having worked in local and national public health for years, I have never experienced such radical non-transparency, nor have I seen such unskilled manipulation of data to achieve a political end rather than the good of the American people. It is untenable to serve in an organization that is not afforded the opportunity to discuss decisions of scientific and public health importance released under the moniker of CDC. The lack of communication by HHS and other CDC political leadership that culminates in social media posts announcing major policy changes without prior notice demonstrate a disregard of normal communication channels and common sense. Having to retrofit analyses and policy actions to match inadequately thought-out announcements in poorly scripted videos or page long X posts should not be how organizations responsible for the health of people should function. Some examples include the announcement of the change in the COVID-19 recommendations for children and pregnant people, the firing of scientists from ACIP by X post and an op-ed rather than direct communication with these valuable experts, the announcement of new ACIP members by X before onboarding and vetting have completed, and the release of term of reference for an ACIP workgroup that ignored all feedback from career staff at CDC. Their desire to please a political base will result in death and disability of vulnerable children and adults. Their base should be the people they serve not a political voting bloc. I have always been first to challenge scientific and public health dogma in my career and was excited by the opportunity to do so again. I was optimistic that there would be an opportunity to brief the Secretary about key topics such as measles, avian influenza, and the highly coordinated approach to the respiratory virus season. Such briefings would allow exchange of ideas and a shared path to support the vision of “Making America Healthy Again.” We are seven months into the new administration, and no CDC subject matter expert from my Center has ever briefed the Secretary. I am not sure who the Secretary is listening to, but it is quite certainly not to us. Unvetted and conflicted outside organizations seem to be the sources HHS use over the gold standard science of CDC and other reputable sources. At a hearing, Secretary Kennedy said that Americans should not take medical advice from him. To the contrary, an appropriately briefed and inquisitive Secretary should be a source of health information for the people he serves. As it stands now, I must agree with him, that he should not be considered a source of accurate information. The intentional eroding of trust in low-risk vaccines favoring natural infection and unproven remedies will bring us to a pre-vaccine era where only the strong will survive and many if not all will suffer. I believe in nutrition and exercise. I believe in making our food supply healthier, and I also believe in using vaccines to prevent death and disability. Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated and is derivative of a legacy that good medicine and science should continue to shun. The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud. I am resigning because of the cowardice of a leader that cannot admit that HIS and his minions’ words over decades created an environment where violence like this can occur. I reject his and his colleagues’ thoughts and prayers, and advise they direct those to people that they have not actively harmed. For decades, I have been a trusted voice for the LGBTQ community when it comes to critical health topics. I must also cite the recklessness of the administration in their efforts to erase transgender populations, cease critical domestic and international HIV programming, and terminate key research to support equity as part of my decision. Public health is not merely about the health of the individual, but it is about the health of the community, the nation, the world. The nation’s health security is at risk and is in the hands of people focusing on ideological self-interest. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunities for growth, learning, and collaboration that I have been afforded during my time at the CDC. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated professionals who are committed to improving the health and well-being of communities across the nation even when under attack from within both physically and psychologically. Thank you once again for the support and guidance I have received from you and previous CDC leadership throughout my tenure. I wish the CDC continued success in its vital mission and that HHS reverse its dangerous course to dismantle public health as a practice and as an institution. If they continue the current path, they risk our personal well-being and the security of the United States.
August 28, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
sherylnyt.bsky.social
CDC WRAPUP: A White House spokesman emailed me at 9:30 p.m. to say that Susan Monarez, the CDC director, has been fired.

This came after days of back-and-forth in which RFK Jr. tried to force her out and she refused. 4 other top CDC officials have quit.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/h...
New C.D.C. Director Is Fired, Trump Administration Says
www.nytimes.com
August 28, 2025 at 2:27 AM
cohenlab.bsky.social
I signed!
jeremymberg.bsky.social Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Aug 27
I signed. I am a member of the National Academy of Medicine, but more importantly, I am someone who cares about my health and the health of my fellow human beings.

Sign!

Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho
RFK, Jr. has got to go...
peterdaszak.bsky.social Peter Daszak @peterdaszak.bsky.social · Aug 26
Launched today! Join 6 Nobel Laureates, 27 Members of the US National Academies & the Scientific Advisory Board of @accountabilityji.bsky.social in signing this petition demanding RFK Jr.'s resignation.

www.change.org/p/demand-rfk...
August 27, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
jeremymberg.bsky.social
Substantial update to Fifty Shades of Jay

jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...

More to come...
August 21, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
jeremymberg.bsky.social
Several people have suggested that I compile my emails to Bhattacharya and I am delighted to do so.

Announcing the first cut of "Fifty Shades of 'Jay'

jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...

This contains just the first few exchanges. I will be adding more as time permits.
A cover labeled "Fifty Shades of 'Jay' by Jeremy M Berg
August 18, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
donmoyn.bsky.social
Shout out to the WSJ journalists who reported on Vought’s impoundment by footnote, causing the White House to walk it back. Impact journalism!!
July 30, 2025 at 4:00 AM
cohenlab.bsky.social
This is insane - all NIH funding halted and then restarted within 5 hours. The ship is being steered by morons!
July 30, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
jenna-m-norton.bsky.social
Today #NIH leadership were told no funds can go out for research project grants, R&D contracts or training grants.

We have just a couple weeks to get funds out the door before Russel Vought attempts a #PocketRescission on Aug 15.

Even if this ends up being temporary, it’s time we don’t have.
July 30, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
jeremymberg.bsky.social
STAT Story

www.statnews.com/2025/07/29/t...

1/n
Trump administration blocks NIH from awarding any research grants and contracts
The order applies to the entirety of new and, possibly, ongoing research grant dollars that go to universities and academic medical centers.
www.statnews.com
July 30, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
jeremymberg.bsky.social
WSJ story about OMB blocking NIH spending and grant making

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

1/n
Trump Administration Puts New Chokehold on Billions in Health-Research Funding
The National Institutes of Health can’t award grants to outside researchers under a new White House restriction.
www.wsj.com
July 30, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
drugmonkey.bsky.social
NCI’s 4%ile payline *may* be just a one time thing to absorb the multi-year funding mandate. But what if this is the new normal, combined with 6-apps limits?
drugmonkey.bsky.social Drug Monkey @drugmonkey.bsky.social · Jul 18
Time to revisit the probability of at least one NIH grant award given relevant success rates. It has been ~20% overall success in recent completed FY. Many ICs have *paylines* around 10%ish.
a graph of the cumulative binomial probability of 1 or more hits given a number of trials and a 5%, 10% or 20% per-trial rate
July 24, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
jeremymberg.bsky.social
The #BethesdaDeclaration stories are now up on the front pages of both the New York Times and the Washington Post.

Thanks again to the brave folks at NIH who stood up and worked together to make this happen.

1/n
a black background with the words heroes at work
ALT: a black background with the words heroes at work
media.tenor.com
June 9, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
harmitmalik.bsky.social
True portraits in courage!
luckytran.com Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · Jun 9
"We are speaking on behalf of hundreds of NIH staff who are standing up together to say: WE DISSENT.

I am so scared about doing this but I am trying to be brave for my kids because it's only gonna get harder to speak up."

Thank you to Dr. Jenna Norton and NIH scientists for your courage!
June 9, 2025 at 11:00 PM
cohenlab.bsky.social
I couldn’t be more proud of this tremendous work by Dr @awood2.bsky.social in my lab, co-led by myself and @idwolff.bsky.social. Anna worked tirelessly to conduct a comprehensive analysis of female meiosis, showing that CNTD1 plays role in crossover designation and checkpoint regulation in females.
jcb.org Journal of Cell Biology @jcb.org · Jun 9
@awood2.bsky.social, Wolff et al. @cohenlab.bsky.social‬ @cornellrepro.bsky.social‬ show that cyclin N-terminal domain containing 1 (CNTD1) is a critical regulator of crossover formation during prophase I of #meiosis in females. rupress.org/jcb/article/...

#Genetics #CellCycle #CellDivision
June 9, 2025 at 7:24 PM
cohenlab.bsky.social
Exceptionally proud to have hood four new Cohen lab PhDs yesterday. Go out into the world and continue to do amazing things, Drs. Wood, Tanis, Simon, and Carr! I am so so proud of you all! @awood2.bsky.social
May 24, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
petebuttigieg.bsky.social
America cannot long remain free, nor first among nations, if it becomes the kind of place where universities are dismantled because they don't align politically with the current head of the government.
May 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
nelsonlflores.bsky.social
Two possible reasons for this are:

1.) Women, POC and/or disabled people are more likely to do equity oriented work

2.) Women, POC and/or disabled people have been marked as DEI regardless of what they do

The government will try to point to the former reason when it is in reality the latter
jacquelyngill.bsky.social Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · May 14
NSF grant terminations are disproportionately affecting underrepresented scientists. 58% of canceled grants have women PIs, despite making up only 34% of awards. 17% of canceled grants have Black PIs (versus 4% of the pool). Hispanic and disabled PIs are twice as likely to have NSF grants canceled.
Trump officials take steps toward a radically different NSF
Efforts to shrink staff, budget, and focus have alarmed members of Congress
www.science.org
May 14, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
samsteindc.bsky.social
Bernie Sanders' office has put out a report this morning on Trump's NIH cuts: "Trump officials effectively cut $2.7 billion in [NIH] funding in the first three months of 2025 – including a 31 percent cut to cancer research through March, compared to the same timeframe last year."
May 13, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
altnih4science.bsky.social
Judge Susan Illston of the Northern District of CA issues the below order. It pauses all RIF-related actions across the gov’t for two weeks, because she concludes that these RIFs likely illegally usurp Congress’ authority by reorganizing agencies. Hearing in 2 wks to consider a prelim injunction.
TRO
May 10, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
jeremymberg.bsky.social
ATTENTION

New crowdsourced site collecting and sharing stories of public impact of research

publicusaresearchbenefits.com

Take a look and consider contributing. Let's make this as powerful as possible!
Searchable database of tangible benefits that federally-funded research gave us.
A crowd-sourced site. Health and Well-being. National Security. Prosperity.
publicusaresearchbenefits.com
May 8, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Reposted by Cohen Lab @Cornell
jeremymberg.bsky.social
As a follow-up to the Kaiser interview, here is my exchange with Dr. Bhattacharya starting Sunday evening...

1/n
A letter from Jeremy Berg to NIH Director Jayanta Bhattacharya about the need to award grants promptly.
May 6, 2025 at 12:33 PM